ORACHE OE ECONOMIC PLANTS. 299 



diameter of 8 to 14 inclies. The timber of both is hard and white, 

 adapted for fancy and cabinet work. 



Onion {Allium Cepa), Leek {A, Pomim), Garlic {A. sativum), 

 biennial cultivated esculents of the Lily family (Liliaceae). It 

 is scarcely necessary to describe these useful and well-known 

 esculents. Their use is of great antiq[uity, for we read that 

 leeks, onions, and garlic were cultivated in Egypt in the time 

 of Moses ; and they appear to have been highly esteemed by the 

 ancient Egyptians, as Herodotus relates that in his time (b c. 

 413) there was an inscription on the great pyramid (1062), 

 stating that a sum amounting to 1600 talents had been paid for 

 onions and garlic which had been supplied to the workmen 

 during its erection. Presuming the talent to be the Greek, the 

 value in English money would be £428,800. In course of time 

 they found their way to Western nations. It is recorded that 

 the Leek is found wild in Switzerland. 



Onion, Welsh {A, fistidosiciii), a strong - rooted perennial, 

 producing numerous erect, hollow, sharp-pointed leaves, a foot or 

 more in length, native of Siberia, recorded to have been intro- 

 duced in 1629, and cultivated in gardens under the name of 

 "Welsh Onion; but how it came to receive that name is not 

 known. It is not in much repute as a culinary vegetable. 



Opium. {See Poppy.) 



Opopanax, a gum-resin produced by O^popanax chironium, 

 formerly known as Pastinccca opoimnax, thus showing its affinity 

 to the garden parsnip. It belongs to the Carrot and Eennel 

 family (Umbellifer^e). It attains a height of 6 or 7 feet, fur- 

 nished with bipinnate leaves and cordate segments, and com- 

 pound umbels of yellow flowers ; native of Southern Europe. 

 The plant yields a milky juice, which hardens and becomes a 

 gum-resin, having properties similar to Gum Ammoniacum. It 

 was at one time held in high repute, but is now little used 

 medicinally. 



Opuntia. {See Indian Fig.) 



Orache, or Sea Purslane {Atri^plex Ealhnus), a low shrub 

 of the Spinach family (Chenopodiace^), with succulent leaves ; 



